A MAN accused of killing two workmates and injuring a third in a crash at Salamander Bay in April has had his matter mentioned in court for the first time. Adam Anthony Bortic, 31, of Queensland, did not appear in Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday and the matter was adjourned to Newcastle Local Court on August 15 where it is expected to be prosecuted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution. Crash investigators charged Mr Bortic with two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, causing bodily harm by misconduct and a back-up charge of negligent driving occasioning death. Queensland man Jamie Ward, 34, and Estonian national Lauri Juerman, 29, were both killed after the Mazda 3 they were passengers in slammed into a tree off Soldiers Point Road about 1am on April 13. The tradesman had been working on a major construction project in the area. Mr Bortic sustained serious injuries including chest and shoulder fractures and was taken to John Hunter Hospital. READ MORE: Court and crime news

TRAGIC: Lauri Juerman, 29, and Jamie Ward, 34,were killed when a car they were travelling in slammed into a tree at Salamander Bay on April 13.

A MAN accused of killing two workmates and injuring a third in a crash at Salamander Bay in April has had his matter mentioned in court for the first time.

Adam Anthony Bortic, 31, of Queensland, did not appear in Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday and the matter was adjourned to Newcastle Local Court on August 15 where it is expected to be prosecuted by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution.